June 10, 2009

Close but not close enough for White Sox in 7-6 loss to Detroit, draft update

Here's a statistic that didn't show up in the White Sox's post-game notes:

The music mixer has played "Everybody Clap Your Hands" 13 times in the past three games, prompting one team official to make sure that tune is put on hold indefinitely.

Now if the Sox can improve on some numbers on the field. After Tuesday night's 7-6 loss to Detroit in 10 innings, the Sox fell to 3-7 on this homestand and are 6-for-64 (.094) with runners in scoring position in their past nine games, including a 1-for-9 effort Tuesday despite drawing a season-high 12 walks.

If there are any positive aspects, it's that Brian Anderson snapped an 0-for-21 slump with a two-run home run in the fifth. Gordon Beckham got his first major league hit to snap an 0-for-13 rut.

But Beckham was upset that he swung and missed at a cut fastball that he hadn't seen on videotape from Brandon Lyon to end the ninth inning with the bases loaded, shortly after pinch-runner Dewayne Wise was called out at home plate trying to score the winning run on Paul Konerko's bases-loaded double.

“I think the umpire (Jim Joyce) was right on the play, and you have to respect what he calls and sees.” manager Ozzie Guillen said.

In addition, the Sox are coping with more nagging injuries. Guillen said right fielder Jermaine Dye's left wrist was OK after landing hard on it after making a diving catch to end the 10th. But Guillen said Dye has coped with a tight calf muscle and added that closer Bobby Jenks has a sore side.

Catcher A.J. Pierzynski, meanwhile, downplayed the bench-clearing incident that he was involved in the bottom of the fourth with Detroit pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

“They thought there was something there, there was nothing there,” Pierzynski said. “They were being protective. I said something to him, and they went crazy.

“I said ‘hey’ to Dontrelle, He said ‘hey,’ and next thing I know, the benches were emptied and all hell was breaking loose. I got no problems with Dontrelle or anyone on their team.”

Some of the attention Tuesday night was shifted to the amateur draft, where the Sox took Indiana catcher Josh Phegley as a sandwich pick, followed by Santa Margarita (Calif.) High School outfielder Trayce Thompson, Port Charlotte (Fla.) left-hander David Holmberg and Tennessee left-hander Bryan Morgado.

Phegley is viewed as the best hitting catcher in the draft. Thompson is the son of former NBA player Mychael Thompson and has signed a letter-of-intent to play at UCLA. The Sox, however, believe they can sign the 6-foot-4 Thompson.

Laumann said Holmberg's 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame is similar to former Cleveland No. 1 pick Greg Swindell, now a post-game commentator on Arizona Diamondbacks games.

Morgado can throw in the 96 mph range, Laumann said. "He's got a big arm, and at the same time, there's something with his arm we can do to make him throw strikes," Laumann said.

Beckham, who played against first-round pick Jared Mitchell when Beckham as at Georgia, described him as "fast" and "athletic." Laumann said Mitchell is "an impact type of guy, an exciting guy. He's got good instincts and good pitch recognition.

"He can be a real impact guy when he gets here."

Laumann and his staff were working on Wednesday's second day of the draft, where they will make 45 picks. They weren't as optimistic of finding a player similar to the talents of Jordan Danks, who was taken in the seventh round and has moved up to Double-A Birmingham.

"The depth that I thought was there maybe right now isn't as deep as it was," said Laumann, concurring that several of the players he and his staff identified were similiar to the industry rankings.